Update: Due to an agreement on government funding for a two-week period, there will not be an immediate government shutdown. The Continuing Resolution provides funding until March 18, 2011. A shutdown remains possible in the future if a longer term agreement is not reached.-----If the...
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director, Alejandro Mayorkas, addressed stakeholders in early February 2011 with a report on the agency's accomplishments in 2010 and projected initiatives for 2011. This overview of Director Mayorkas's address emphasizes topics that may be of special interest to MurthyDotCom...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) annual diversity visa (DV) lottery is often a vehicle used by unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in the United States. While the DV lottery is a genuine U.S. government program, it is important...
Many MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers are following the ongoing saga of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid of Tri-Valley University (TVU). On January 19, 2011, the U.S. Attorney filed a complaint seeking the forfeiture of properties belonging to Susan Xiao-Ping Su, TVU's Chief...
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has posted a brief notice, entitled Attention Former Tri-Valley University Students. This notice advises that the SEVIS records of former Tri-Valley (TVU) students were terminated as of January 18, 2011. ICE is advising students to call a Student and Exchange...
In response to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on January 20, 2011 against Tri-Valley University (TVU), Sheela Murthy and the Murthy Law Firm sent an urgent request for relief to Janet Napolitano, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to John...
The raid of Tri-Valley University (TVU) continues to send shockwaves through the immigrant community. Many former students fear that they will be removed (formerly referred to as deported) from the United States. Concerns about removal and clarifications of some misunderstandings are addressed here for the...
The U.S. Embassy and consulates in Mexico recently changed the nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application procedures. As of January 10, 2011, applicant service centers (ASCs) will perform some of the visa application processing. Nonimmigrant visa applicants will apply through the ASCs prior to the visa interview...
In Part 1 (14.Jan.2011) of this article, MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers were informed of problems with visa applications and an increase in denials at the U.S. consulates in India. Part 2 discusses some of the legal issues presented by the current wave of 221(g) refusals,...
Many foreign nationals are voicing concerns about potential changes pertaining to the acquisition of U.S. citizenship by children born in the United States. These concerns arise from a January 5, 2011 press conference wherein a group of state legislators, including legislators from Arizona, Georgia, South...
